In Dub

Probably best known as one-half of New Zealand electronic duo Pitch Black, flame-haired producer/keyboardist Paddy Free has also twiddled the studio knobs for Kiwi compatriots Crowded House, Neil Finn and Salmonella Dub. But some of his most interesting work has been on more recent Maori-influenced collaborations.

Back in 2008 on his first solo recording Karekare: Te Reo O Te Whenua, Free teamed up with taonga puoro (traditional Maori instruments) specialist Richard Nunns. He then expanded the electro-trad concept further with the group Nga Tae, which again featured Nunns, along with protégé Horomona Horo and Maori vocalist Waimihi Hotere. Next, he joined veteran Aotearoan singer Moana Maniapoto as her musical director and producer and became a vital member of her band The Tribe.

In Dub revisits and remixes Free's co-writing and production efforts for Moana's 2014 album Rima, as well as Nga Tae's 2012's self-titled debut.

Retaining snatches of traditional Te Reo Maori vocals on tracks like ‘Te Ira Tangata’ and ‘Upokohue’, he overlays a heady mix of ricocheting dub reggae effects and squelchy bass frequencies for the echoing ‘Rangatahi’ and the horn-ladened ‘Whole Worlds Watching’. Elsewhere chilled ambience prevails, alongside Nunns’ breathy collection of organic sounds, creating atmospheric audio collages.